Towards the end of his final round at the 2017 Players, Ian Poulter went into a bush and had to take a drop. Before dropping he began smoothing and contouring the surface where he was going to drop the ball. Was that legal?

Message #83680

sngernz

RE: Did Poulter improve his lie at the Players?

Member Since: January 24, 2005

Favorite Golfer: Bubba!Favorite Golf Course: Spyglass Hill

Sunday May 14, 2017 6:58 PM

Ya know, I saw that, too, and thought for sure he was violating some Rule the way he was picking up the Loose Impediments by the handful. So I looked it up in the Rules/Decisions of Golf and this was all I could find:

23-1/6 Removal of Loose Impediments from Area in Which Ball to Be Dropped:

Q.Through the green, is it permissible for a player to remove loose impediments from the area in which he is preparing to drop his ball?
A.Yes.

I'd like to know if that is correct, that he could basically smooth out the pine needles and twigs to improve his drop area. Anybody hear anything different, please chime in.

Message #83681 - This was a reply to message #83680

lotrgolfer48

RE: Did Poulter improve his lie at the Players?

Member Since: January 10, 2011

Favorite Golfer: Jordan SpiethFavorite Golf Course: Chambers Bay

Sunday May 14, 2017 7:43 PM

There was a rules official right there...

Message #83682 - This was a reply to message #83681

kviser

RE: Did Poulter improve his lie at the Players?

SoCal Community Staff

Member Since: February 4, 2005

Favorite Golfer: Fred CouplesFavorite Golf Course: River Ridge

Sunday May 14, 2017 7:44 PM

There was an official right there while he was doing it, too.

If that were one of my pals, I would say enough it enough. Looks like cheating to me.

On the other hand, he hit a great shot from there! I thought it might go in.

Poulter acted within the rules, apparently, but what he did changed the nature of the playing surface he was on. I think that should be the determining factor.

If you drop in the fairway, you can move lose impediments in the drop area, but the nature of the drop zone is still 'fairway'.

Same for rough - you can move loose impediments prior to dropping, but the underlying surface is still rough.

The area where Poulter dropped is normally maintained as 'pinestraw'. It's under the overhanging pine/etc. trees, and that's what covers the dirt. That area is not 'maintained' by blowing all the loose pine needles away on a regular basis - pine needles are the default playing surface in that area.

So in clearing away some of the existing playing surface (but he didn't 'move' any dirt), he acted within the rules, but I maintain that he altered the 'normal' playing condition of that area where he dropped.